30/07/2020 09:00
Polish Volleyball League launch summer hit competition to help resume activities
News from the National Federations
Warsaw, Poland, July 30, 2020. The unprecedented PreZero Grand Prix series started this past weekend – thus delivering matches involving players from the top Polish clubs, this time not playing indoors, but on sand. This is the response of the Polish Volleyball League to the long absence of competitive Volleyball caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The best volleyball players from the elite PlusLiga and TAURON Liga first competed in Krakow from July 24 to 26 and this coming weekend they will continue their journey in Warsaw, with the second stop running from July 31 to August 2 at Monta Beach Volley Club. The grand finale will be taking place in Gdansk from August 7 to 9, 2020.
The PreZero Grand Prix is an innovative idea. With its introduction, the Polish Volleyball League has shown that they can act creatively and quickly even in the most difficult and challenging times. No other sports league in Poland has decided to create such a large-scale tournament in such a short time.
“I am very impressed with the reaction of the business community. I do appreciate their support,” says Pawel Zagumny, President of the Polish Volleyball League, former player and a 2014 World Champion. “We are building and developing the idea of summer games for our league players, and this should not be a one-time attraction in the era of coronavirus. We would like it to become a regular event that will allow league players to compete also during the summer holidays. I am glad that so many partners want to create a new, dynamic product with us,” he adds.
The PreZero Grand Prix games will last three weekends. Sixteen teams from the PlusLiga and TAURON 1. League are divided into four groups. Each team will play in one qualifying tournament with the top two teams from each group progressing to the final stage. With action on the sand, each team consists of four players, with the roster comprising up to eight players. The rules of the game are the same as in indoor Volleyball, with the court having the very same dimensions as an ‘ordinary’ Volleyball court. In addition to that, as many as eight teams contest the women’s tournament.
The event started on July 24 in Krakow, while the Polish leagues have planned to resume in September – so the Grand Prix helps very much with the promotion of the upcoming indoor season. “In terms of marketing and sports, it is an important matter,” emphasises Mariusz Wlazly, MVP of the 2014 FIVB World Championship, now due to play for Trefl GDANSK after spending almost his entire career with PGE Skra BELCHATOW. “We are returning to league volleyball, and we will finally be able to talk about coming back to a new normal.”
Polsat Television is providing live coverage of all matches, with special fan zones and stands set up in each one of the three host cities.
Pictures courtesy of Piotr Sumara / Polish Volleyball League (PLS)
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